Page 6

He pulls out a plump bag of coins and weighs it in his palm. The crowd seems to part for him as he approaches. He slits the end open with one of his claws, making me shiver.

He eyes me with a look I can’t define, probably because his eyes are even more inhuman than the others’. An unnatural amber hue overtakes his irises, interrupted by those flecks of gold that make him seem otherworldly. His features are sharp, as are his teeth when he parts his mouth in what I imagine is supposed to be a smile.

Again I wait for the terror to ice my limbs, but heat swarms me instead as I take in his muscular form, complete with scars peeking from his shirt that’s largely open in the front. The fabric ripples with his movements, drawing my eyes downward to the rest of him.

Why do all the monsters on this damn island have to be so hot?

And… huge?

“Do you have a counter?” the ship’s captain grates out with a smug tone. Now that he’s hearing the clink of coins, he seems positively giddy.

Lord Arwan is no longer holding my wrist, so I rub it, using the opportunity to bring my hands closer to the hidden vials at my thigh. I debate which one I might be able to use to get out of this predicament, but none of them will end with me getting out of this alive.

Much less Sofia.

And that would break my third promise.

Don’t die.

I can’t save my sister if I’m underground.

“Pack Master Godric,” Lord Arwan announces with a touch of exasperation to his tone. “I didn’t know you were in the market for a bed warmer.”

My shoulders stiffen at the term.

Bed warmer? He can’t be referring to me, right?

The male with amber eyes glares at Lord Arwan as if he gets under his skin all the time.

They couldn’t look more different from one another, even though they’re both stunning in their own ways.

Lord Arwan is clearly from Monster Isle’s royal court system. I recognize royalty from a mile away, and his embroidered vest with a golden frill is a mix of fashions. One favors my familiar Elite City taste, and the other is combined with Monster Isle’s unique style. His black boots are strapped with glistening chains that are probably made of silver to irritate a wolf like Godric, and I catch the studded diamonds in the trim of fabric that catch the light with his movements.

Whereas Pack Master Godric, well, he looks like a rugged tree I’d want to climb. He must have woken up this morning and ruffled his braids a bit, then thrown on a simple white shirt tied at his collar, the strings now attractively loose as if they couldn’t contain his muscles, and black leggings with the fabric tucked into practical boots. He has no chains or diamonds, but he does have scars he wears like a badge of honor decorating his skin in a feral way. The marks swirl over his arms and curl around his thumb, drawing my attention when he holds up his bag of coins.

Then he startles me when he dumps it onto the ground. Silence envelops the cabin that now seems to be closing in all around me as black dots sprinkle my vision.

Not…

I’m not…

“Take it all, Graves,” Pack Master Godric says with a growly voice that makes my knees buckle. “Lord Arwan needs to understand that the pureblood packs are the backbone of this isle. The hybrids exist only because of our protection. Disrespect won’t be tolerated.”

Protection from what?

His gaze flicks to me at the mention of disrespect. I don’t know if that’s a warning or a threat.

His jaw flexes before he leans toward Lord Arwan while speaking to the captain. “I’ll be taking them both.” His amber eyes find me again and pin me to the spot. “I’ll take her to my cabin on the train; I have some manners to teach her. The other one joins the guest suite and can wash up.”

All my plans and promises bleed into white noise as I’m escorted off the ship. Sofia is silent as she patters barefoot next to me.

The sun breaks over the horizon, revealing my new home for however long my heart keeps beating. A hilly mountainside cresting with castles is broken only by a long train with its doors slid open.

Dark shadows crawl across the landscape, as if the monsters are coming for me.

I’m not for sale, I think, but I can’t lie to myself anymore. Not when coins are still clattering in the captain’s hands behind me.

My mantra breaks as I realize that grim reality doesn’t look like hopes and dreams.